Equestrian-Jumping-Six-way tie into part two of individual final

August 08, 2012|Reuters

By Sarah Edmonds

LONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - There was a six-way tie going intothe second round of the individual show jumping final, withstalwarts like Britain's Nick Skelton among the leaders, alongwith a few surprises.

The top 20 horse-rider combinations go through to the secondround later on Wednesday where they will face a reconfigured,and probably more challenging, course.

"He's fresh," Skelton said of horse Big Star after goingclear. "We'll see what they're going to build (for thesecond-round course) and what happens."

Wednesday's history-themed course certainly proved difficultenough, given that only six riders in a field of 37 finishedwith neither jumping nor time faults.

Another four were clear round the obstacles, but notched afault for taking longer than the allowed time.

Second-round results are added to the first to determine thewinners. Any riders tied for medal positions will jump off overa shorter, more technically demanding course.

The four-metre water jump and a three-fence combinationinspired by maritime navigation proved the undoing of many.

The first of the six clears came early and unexpectedly -Irish rider Cian O'Connor, who only made the cut for theindividual event after a Swedish rider withdrew.

The first-round field included all riders who finished in35th position or above after an individual qualifier and tworounds of team jumping. All started on a clean slate.

Fans of Swiss rider Steve Guerdat held up a huge banner thatread "hop Steve". And hop he did, perfectly over every fence.

Scott Brash, the youngest in a British team that capturedits first gold in 60 years on Monday, jumped a beautiful clear.

Brash, who says he thrives on pressure, got the ride onHello Sanctus when show jumping owners Lord and Lady Harris andLady Kirkham bought it for him just before the Olympic deadline.